If you had to pick one diving creature that the Philippines is famous for, then there’s probably a good vote for Nudibranchs. If you haven’t been diving with us already, or anywhere in the Philippines, or for that matter Asia, then a Nudibranch is a marine gastropod(snail or slug), which generally lacks a shell and gills. Nudibranchs breathe through their body’s surface, leading to the name, which literally translated would mean “naked gills”.
In actual fact nudibranchs can be seen in all oceans and seas of the world and are not specific to Asia, but they tend to be extravagantly ‘dressed’ here. Their bright colors and, in some species, flamboyant collections of tentacles, or cerata, make these docile creatures appear significant more dramatic than they really are. But they look crazy, they look cool, they often look unbelievable, and without seeing them move it can be hard to realize they are alive and not just a piece of coral. Plus they come in literally thousands of species, so finding new ones that you’ve not seen before becomes and exciting challenge. How many different types have you seen?
At evolution we are all passionate about ‘nudis’ and Matt and David even point them out on tech dives. So it’s not just in the shallows that you’ll find them with Jojo, Gino, Alex and the other recreational team members. If you thought the guys with 4 tanks and hoses everywhere were just doing it to be macho, now the secret is out…they’re just looking for nudibranchs too. See the picture of Chris Kazala as definitive proof!
